Hoyer To Continue Abortion Fight In House Following Senate Passage

Hoyer-Greenwood Bans Late-Term Abortions with Health, Life Exceptions

For Immediate Release:

March 12, 2003

Contact:Stacey Farnen(202) 225 - 3130

WASHINGTON – House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD), lead Democratic sponsor of the Late-Term Abortion Restriction Act, released the following statement today regarding the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act that is expected to pass the Senate tomorrow and be taken up in the House following Senate passage:

"I was sad to learn that the Senate rejected compromise late-term abortion legislation put forward by Senator Durbin today as an amendment to the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act. This refusal to meet on common ground is an all-too-familiar tactic in the debate over the contentious and divisive issue of abortion.

“I will continue to fight for a fair hearing for the Hoyer-Greenwood Late-Term Abortion Restriction Act when the partial-birth abortion ban legislation comes to the House Floor. Hoyer-Greenwood is a common ground, common sense alternative to the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act that would constitutionally ban late-term abortions with exceptions for the life and health (serious and adverse consequences) of the mother. This bill gets to the heart of the matter by dealing with when abortions are performed not how abortions are performed.

“The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act is unconstitutional and it is unfortunate that Congress continues to defy the Supreme Court by once again debating this legislation. The Supreme Court’s decision two years ago in Stenberg v. Carhart struck down Nebraska’s similar partial birth abortion law because it (1) failed to include an exception for the preservation of the health of the mother and (2) placed an “undue burden” upon a woman’s right to choose an alternative abortion procedure that is commonly used before fetal viability.

“Hoyer-Greenwood answers these concerns and would finally put this issue to rest.”